Day Trips From Nashville Worth Taking
Nashville is a great base for exploring Middle Tennessee and beyond. Within a two-hour drive you have historic towns, incredible state parks, legendary distilleries, and one of the most impressive cave systems in the world. Here's the best of what's within reach.
Franklin, Tennessee (30 Minutes South)
Franklin is Nashville's most popular day trip — a beautifully preserved historic downtown, excellent independent restaurants and boutiques, and the Carter House and Carnton museums for Civil War history. The downtown strip is excellent for a few hours of walking and shopping. Don't miss Hattie Jane's Creamery for ice cream or Gray's on Main for brunch.
Jack Daniel's Distillery, Lynchburg (1.5 Hours Southeast)
Jack Daniel's Distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee is the most visited distillery in the world and worth the trip if you're at all interested in whiskey or American history. The tours are well done, the rickyard and cave spring are genuinely interesting, and Lynchburg's tiny downtown has a charm that's easy to spend an hour in. Book tours in advance — they fill up.
Natchez Trace Parkway (30-60 Minutes Southwest)
The Natchez Trace Parkway is a 444-mile scenic road tracing an ancient trade route from Nashville to Natchez, Mississippi. The Nashville-area section has excellent trailheads, pull-offs, and historic sites — the Double Arch Bridge and the first few dozen miles are beautiful. A half-day drive with stops is one of the better low-key day trips from the city.
Fall Creek Falls State Park (2 Hours East)
Fall Creek Falls is one of the best state parks in the Southeast — it has the highest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains (256 feet), excellent hiking trails, a lake for kayaking, and a lodge and restaurant on-site. It's a full-day trip. Go in fall for the foliage or spring for the waterfalls at peak flow.
Mammoth Cave National Park (2 Hours North)
Mammoth Cave in Kentucky is the longest known cave system in the world — over 400 miles of explored passages. The National Park offers a range of tours from easy 2-hour walks to challenging half-day adventures. It's one of the most unique natural experiences within day trip range of Nashville and is significantly undervisited.
Arrington Vineyards (40 Minutes South)
Arrington Vineyards is partially owned by Kix Brooks of Brooks and Dunn and is one of Tennessee's best wineries. The grounds are beautiful, the wine is solid, and a Sunday afternoon on the hillside with a bottle of local wine is exactly as pleasant as it sounds.
Come Home to a Stocked Rental
After a long day trip, coming home to a stocked fridge at your Nashville rental beats any alternative. Music City Weekend Co. can have your Airbnb stocked with drinks, snacks, and evening supplies before you leave in the morning. Shop the full catalog at musiccityweekend.co/shop, or learn more about Nashville grocery delivery and fridge stocking.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best day trips from Nashville?
The most popular day trips from Nashville are Franklin (30 min south), the Jack Daniel's Distillery in Lynchburg (90 min southeast), Fall Creek Falls State Park (2 hours east), and Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky (2 hours north).
How far is Jack Daniel's Distillery from Nashville?
Jack Daniel's Distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee is approximately 80 miles southeast of Nashville — about 1.5 hours by car depending on traffic.
Is Franklin Tennessee worth visiting from Nashville?
Yes. Franklin is one of the most pleasant small towns in Tennessee with a well-preserved historic downtown, excellent restaurants, good shopping, and important Civil War history. It's easy to fill a full day there.
What is the best nature day trip from Nashville?
Fall Creek Falls State Park is the best nature day trip from Nashville — the highest waterfall east of the Rockies, excellent hiking, and a full-day park experience. Radnor Lake is the best option if you want something closer and lower-key.